When Fairy Queen Sylvie snatches his brother, schoolboy Jack is plunged into a sinister fantasy world of illusion and deception – the realm of telepathic fairies ruled by spoilt, arrogant fairy queens.

Haunted by nightmares about his brother and pursued by a mysterious tramp (only seen by Jack and his friends) Jack fears he too will be stolen away.

The tramp is Thomas the Rhymer, who only speaks in rhyme. Lost and frightened Thomas needs Jack’s help to find his way home.

The race is on for Jack and his friends to save Thomas from the wicked Agnes Day (who wants to treat Thomas like a lab rat). And save Jack’s brother from Sylvie.
To do this they need the help of Bess – the most ancient powerful fairy queen in the land.

But there is a problem…
No one knows where Bess is… or even if she is still lives.
And even if they find her… will she let them go?

The most recent review for Thomas the Rhymer byBrigid Gallagher‘s Five Star Sep 12, 2017 On Goodreads.

Jack Hughes witnesses the abduction of his brother Dan by the wicked fairy Sylvie. Nightmares and visions of a mysterious tramp take over his reality and he becomes torn about sharing the truth behind his brothers disappearance. Catherine, Ken and Ken’s mystical mother Rosie become his confidantes and join Jack in searching for clues on breaking the wicked faeries hold over his brother. The tramp’s true identity soon unfolds when the team offer him food and shelter; he is Thomas the Rhymer, Prince of Elphane, who speaks in rhyme:

“Yesterday upon the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there. He wasn’t there again today. I wish that man would GO AWAY!” The author takes the reader on a series of adventures, travelling along ancient ley lines, bathed in milky blue light that cross a fairy hill, churches and open countryside.

We meet the mysterious Horatio Grin and Agnes Day, whose sister Poppy was also abducted by the faeries. But can they be trusted? And can Jack and his friends find his brother and bring him safely back home?

This book is both clever and well written, and will appeal to both young and old.

The next author with wonderful reviews to share is D.Wallace Peach for the fourth and final book in The Rose Shield series, Kari’s Reckoning, by D. Wallace Peach published in April this year.

About Kari’s Reckoning

The epic adventure concludes as the Shiplord vies for what he desires—the throne of Ellegeance. Their power in jeopardy, influencers surrender their oaths, their loyalties fractured. Rose, a child of untrained and reckless talent, once again becomes a pawn in the quest for control.

As the Cull Tarr solidify their rule, Guardian plots rebellion. Catling and Whitt, each gifted with singular skills, seek to sway the course of the conflict. Oathbreakers, traitors, and those desperate to save Rose collide in a final battle for the realm.

Yet, a third player emerges in the deadly game. The kari, spirits of a sentient planet, command the air, water, and land. They manipulate events to satisfy their sovereign designs and care not who survives the human war.

I just finished reading the entire Rose Shield Tetralogy, and I am both very satisfied and more than impressed. The author mentions ‘balance’ often in the books, and I believe she truly achieves this herself with this series. Love, intrigue, nostalgia, tenderness, death, war, spirituality, brutality, humor, intensely varied and interesting characters you can’t help but get wrapped around, and plot twists that are surprising again and again and never disappoint.

And that’s the thing – if you do a lot of fiction reading like I do, its unavoidable to be on your guard for turns of direction in the works you are reading that seem contrived or false, disappointing or just plain dumb. None of this happens in Peach series – there are no disappointments.

That is not to say that there wasn’t more than once that I had to stop reading and let the book go for the night, because something happened that I wasn’t sure I could deal with right then. But I kept it up, and I’m glad I did. Writing this at the end of the last book, I am filled with this complex mix of emotions, one like she deftly describes, and it is not bad – it is welcome. She describes herself as a ‘fledgling’ writer and I say NO, she is not. There is too, too much here, far beyond fledgling. The books are not flawless, but I found myself forgiving the small errors immediately to keep on with the story. In my opinion, these books, just like the world she created, are imbued with luminescence.

The next book is for children and is The Fantastic Travels of William and the Monarch Butterfly by Christina Steiner.

About the book

The Fantastic Travels of William and the Monarch Butterfly, Christina Steiner’s newest children book with illustrations from Mary Manning, focuses on the incredible life of the fourth generation, eastern Monarch butterfly.

Steiner’s chapter book, a fantasy story, offers a look into the lives of Monarch butterflies through the eyes of William. When William captures a butterfly for a show-and-tell at his school, he has no idea how special his trophy will become. Much to his surprise, the captive girl butterfly, Anka, is able to speak. With a sad, trembling voice, Anka, pleads for freedom so she may fulfill her life destiny. Worried to show up at school empty handed, William resists her pleas. But clever Anka bargains for her freedom by enticing William to accompany her as a passenger on a fantastic journey. There is one catch, though: William has to shrink in size and become a miniature boy in order to ride on Anka’s back.

William faces a dilemma. Should he set Anka free and show up at school empty handed? Or should he join this girl butterfly on an adventure to an unknown destination?
Intrigued, he agrees to join Anka on her special trip. Whisked away on the wings of a butterfly, a whole new world unfolds for William. Together, he and Anka soar south-southwest from North Dakota to the Oyamel fir forests in central Mexico. A strong friendship develops as they depend on each other for survival.

They stay for five month at their destination high up in the mountains of central Mexico – the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve. There, William learns much about Monarch butterflies, about survival, and about himself. But most notably, it is during their return travels in the spring that the true purpose for Anka’s urgency for freedom reveals itself. It is then that William personally witnesses nearly the full life-cycle of Monarch butterflies – from egg to caterpillar to chrysalis to stunning Monarch butterfly, the ultimate tale of the circle of life.

Christina Steiner has written a lovely tale that weaves real life science with fantasy. It not only explains the life of Monarch butterflies it also teaches children to respect, appreciate, and enjoy nature. William and his butterfly friend Anka develop a trusting and sweet friendship that takes them on a great adventure. A wonderful book to help children understand the sequence of life and the joy that happens along the way.

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About Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

My name is Sally Cronin and I am doing what I love.. Writing. Books, short stories, Haiku and blog posts. My previous jobs are only relevant in as much as they have gifted me with a wonderful filing cabinet of memories and experiences which are very useful when putting pen to paper. I move between non-fiction health books and posts and fairy stories, romance and humour. I love variety which is why I called my blog Smorgasbord Invitation and you will find a wide range of subjects. You can find the whole story here.
Find out more at https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/about-me/

Brigid and Sally…. I know I must look like some sort of eejit when I come over all bashful… but I am both bashful and an eejit. Thank you for you brilliant reviews and your support…It means so much and I will get the book out before Christmas. You are stars!

Point taken Guys.. they need some light editing as I now feel a much strong writer due to my extremely exciting and productive stint here. Plus for the first time ever, I have peers and they are reading my stuff and liking what they see. Which is so Super Cool! XXX

Thank you for including me with these other great writers. I’ve read most everything Diana has written. I just love her world building and characters. Recently I’ve finished the last of the Rose Shield Books. They are fabulous. Her writing is enthralling in so many ways. Now of course I’l have to check out Paul Andruss’ books. The list of to read books is growing.

Thanks so much for sharing the review of Kari’s Reckoning, Sally. I hadn’t even seen that one. What a treat. I’m honored to be here today with two other writers I admire and their fabulous reviews. Hugs. ❤

Paul is a horrid man!!!! I read the “look inside” free pages on Amazon and NOW my entire schedule for the night is shot because I simply MUST finish Thomas the Rhymer – lol.

I couldn’t get the MOBI to “translate,” but when I saw that it was 99 cents to buy the Kindle version, after a few false starts I managed to get them to accept my card and send to my Kindle. And there goes my night! I have NO self-control.

Seriously, Paul – it is wonderful! I only stopped to go to the bathroom, and now feel compelled to scurry back. I WILL review.
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD/EFD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to transform a world!”

Just finished Rhymer – my head lost in the land. Still a Kindle-klutz, I tried to communicate through the “chat with the author” dealie-bob to say thanks for the GREAT ride, but it wouldn’t let me send. The “prove you’re not a robot” box wouldn’t click for me.

In any case: Paul, if you are reading, you MUST get off the web and get back to writing! Impatient fans are clamoring for the next book in the series!!

Dear Madelyn, thank you for all those lovely things you said. Your reaction to the book was just wonderful. Wow! (This must be my word of the week!) I couldn’t ask for a better one.
I had a massive computer crash earlier and am just getting it back together. So just catching up with emails before bed….emails like time wait for no man! Then I will need to do more work on it tomorrow as I am not too sure if the rootkits are fixed and some programs are no longer working, I will then drop you a line when all fixed.
I do want to say that I am hugely indebted to Sally (though you know how modest she is she just pooh poohs the idea). Sally had faith in me and gave me the opportunity to piggy back off her fantastic blog and the chance to connect with a warm intelligent and interested audience, which she had built up through all of her own wonderful writing and unselfish work in the community. I have skills but I do not have those skills to do what she did and without her I would not have been stretching myself and trying as hard as I am. Knowing there are people out there who like what you do, makes you want to keep doing it and try to do it better. And that is really all down to Sally and you guys.
Not going to be soppy anymore just going to go and deal with this BLOODY COMPUTER GRRRRRRRRR! P XOXOX all round!

SO sorry to hear about your computer horror. I’d probably be sitting and crying (or screaming). No need to add to your catch-up with an email (or other) to me, just cross that off your list.

Sally is amazingly generous sharing resources, both informational and human. LOVE her nutrition series – all her health info, actually. I would never have learned of you (or read Rhymer) but for her. I do my best to make time to read the articles she features and am always rewarded when I do.

She is a wonderful writer herself – and I love her sense of humor. As soon as I can figure out how to connect my Kindle to the ‘net so that I can import non-Amazon things from my computer, I am greatly looking forward to reading her first ‘Names’ book.

I have no doubt it will be worth the wait – frustrating and time-consuming as it is to figure out new ways to work with technology. And, you’re welcome, but I would venture to say that every single person who reads your blog feels the same way.
xx,
mgh

Reblogged this on Myths of the Mirror and commented:
Many thanks to Sally for capturing a review written at the end of the Rose Shield Series – one I hadn’t seen yet and a final wrap-up of the 4-book experience. While you’re visiting, check out wonderful reviews for Christina and Paul as well. Happy Reading!

*Sally, Wow! You know how to throw a fantastic book review party! 🎉 🎋
*Christina is who I will try to start connecting with since my teaching days lead my heart into her arena most. My days spent from middle school to preschoolers with an integrated program including a majority of special needs. . . science, curiosity and feelings are all covered within her books.
*Diana is an amazing light energy, has brightened my days often with her wisdom and wit. I read and reviewed, “Catling’s Bane” on my blog. I think I will pass the torch to major book blogging reviewers from now on! This was cool, yet sad to read of the final book of her series. . . She’s starting a new one with Raze and Briyon’s soul, which may send you off to read her fantastic descriptions. . .
*Paul, I am pleased to see your books with great diversity of covers and themes. The fairy (faerie) world upended in “Thomas the Rhymer,” “Thirteenth Treasure” and the “Daughters of Albion” all sound like they have intrigue and challenges for their unique population. “Finn MacCool” looks far from cold, more like hot! This one may keep me warm reading in the middle of winter, Paul.
Sally, you are the “hostess with the mostest.”
Leaving you my guest gifts of flowers and beverage 💐🍾 (☕🍵?) ~ Robin 😊